Last Days

Reception class sings Yes, Jesus Love Me @ the hospital.

They are here upon us. We’ve known they would come; at times they moved slowly and other times they sped by so fast that it made our heads spin! These are the last days of our time in Macha.

 

BINGO!

From the day we came here, the students were working hard on their Christmas program. Each class had a part, as well as joint efforts from all in reciting scripture (whole chapters of scripture!), performing short drama, sign dancing and songs. This week we performed the program twice. The first was earlier in the week as our dress rehearsal for the parents, and then yesterday we performed in the hospital auditorium for anyone that wanted to come. Both times we performed before a packed house!

Chocho wins hair clips!

Last night, Greg and I gave a party for the boarding students and their chaperones. We played a vigorous game of Bingo, with lots of fun prizes! Some of you helped to supply us with those coveted gifts; things like pencils, gum, books, jewelry, calculators, watches, hair clips and more! There were still a few prizes remaining so during devotions prizes were given for correct answers to the story questions. There were lots of laughs, and a few emotional moments as the students express to us how much we meant to them.

We watched a Christmas video together complete with popcorn! And then we concluded our party with cake. A Zambian party is never complete unless there is cake!

Parachute game!

Grade 4 plays classroom games.

Today was the last day of school. The morning hours were spent turning in books, cleaning up the classrooms, removing posters from the walls and we later found out that many used the time to construct cards for us. Games, crafts and the gift of a Beany Baby was given to each student.  Our final half hour was spent together in the chapel, and was a tribute to us. Each class came forward to sing to us and present us with the cards they had made. They even gave personal testimony of how we encouraged and ministered to them. The teachers then sang us a farewell song and also told us personally how much we meant to them, calling us Mum and Dad. It definitely was a tear-jerker for both of us. In just a few weeks these kids & teachers have wormed their way into our hearts. 

Special Moment

Two of our kids: Wize & Westone.

We asked the three siblings that we sponsor to come see us before they headed home. We wanted to present them with their Christmas gifts, but we also wanted to have a conversation about enrolling them in the boarding house in January when school resumes. When we brought it up, the kids were all smiles and nodding their heads.

What’s so special about boarding? Most of the children in Macha speak Tonga in the home. Even in most government schools, the lessons are taught in Tonga. MICS is known for a higher standard of education because they teach classes in English, the business and education language of Zambia. In boarding, English is the required language. For children who only speak Tonga in the home, acquiring English is long and hard if it is only spoken a few hours each day at school. For those in boarding, they will pick up English much quicker and their composition improves dramatically.

For boarding students, time is scheduled for homework and their boarding parents are available to help if needed. Just recently we have acquired a volunteer offering tutoring to those students who need a little extra help particularly in math or phonics. The boarding students also have extra time in the library and computer lab each day. Students who live at MICS do better academically than the others.

Many of the boarding students would not receive the food, shelter and care that they need if they lived at home. Most are double orphans, and their caretakers struggle to provide for them. In fact, we had one boy faint during our Christmas program practice one Monday. When we called the boy’s caretaker, he said that he had placed the boy in the care of a neighbor for the weekend, and he was sure that the boy hadn’t eaten since Friday. So sad!

If any of this makes your heart beat faster, and you want to become involved, maybe even partner with us in providing boarding care for the three children mentioned, please let us know. The cost for one student’s boarding care for one year is $550 US.

Final Preparations

We have switched gears a bit now. The students are now gone, the classrooms empty, the boarding bedrooms have been cleaned out. We’ve moved electronic equipment to safe storage, moved some appliances for convenience and security, and emptied all trash containers in the burn pit. Our goal is to leave our refrigerator as empty as possible, so we are carefully planning out our meals.

Fortunately Mrs. Grace is here to let us know what all must happen before we close up the buildings for the summer break. She has been here all along and knows exactly what to do. We have been most grateful for her and she has become a good friend.